Three eyelid localized cutaneous anthrax cases

Anthrax is primarily seen in the developing countries, but it can be a worldwide medical concern due to bioterrorism threats. Palpebral anthrax is a rare form of cutaneous anthrax. Untreated cutaneous anthrax can be lethal. Patients with palpebral anthrax can develop complications including cicatrisation and ectropion. Thus, anthrax should be considered in differential diagnosis for patients presenting with preseptal cellulitis in high-risk regions. Herein, we report three anthrax cases (with different age) involving eyelids that were cured without any complications due to early diagnosis and treatment.     

QT dispersion predicts mortality and correlates with both coronary artery calcification and atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients

Purpose

QT dispersion (QTd) was shown to be an independent predictor of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. It may be hypothesized that coronary artery calcification is related to QTd in HD patients because widespread calcification may also involve the cardiac conducting system in these patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationships of corrected QTd (QTcd) with coronary artery calcification score (CACS), carotid plaque score (CPS) and possible influence of these parameters on survival of HD patients.

Methods

Seventy-two HD patients (33 male, 39 female) were enrolled into the study. Mean age of the patients was 44 ± 12 years. Mean follow-up duration was 77 ± 24 months. CACS was determined by computed tomography. QTcd values were calculated as the difference of maximum and minimum QT intervals. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and CPS were measured by echocardiography.

Results

QTcd was significantly correlated with CACS (r = 0.233, p = 0.049), CPS (r = 0.354, p = 0.003) and LVMI (p = 0.011, r = 0.299). CPS was found to be significantly higher in the group with high QTcd (>60 ms) [2 (1–4) versus 0 (0–1), p = 0.02]. CACS was significantly correlated with age (r = 0.44, p < 0.001), LVMI (r = 0.52, p < 0.001) and CPS (r = 0.32, p = 0.003). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, survival of patients with high QTcd was significantly lower than the patients with low QTcd. In Cox regression analysis for predicting mortality, age, serum albumin and QTcd were found to be the independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusions

QTcd independently predicted mortality, and it was significantly associated with coronary artery calcification, left ventricular hypertrophy and atherosclerosis in HD patients.     

Detailed Inspection of γ-ray,Fast and Thermal Neutrons Shielding Competence of Calcium Oxide or Strontium Oxide Comprising Bismuth Borate Glasses

For both the B₂O₃-Bi₂O₃-CaO and B₂O₃-Bi₂O₃-SrO glass systems, γ-ray and neutron attenuation qualities were evaluated. Utilizing the Phy-X/PSD program, within the 0.015–15 MeV energy range, linear attenuation coefficients (µ) and mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) were calculated, and the attained μ/ρ quantities match well with respective simulation results computed by MCNPX, Geant4, and Penelope codes. Instead of B₂O₃/CaO or B₂O₃/SrO, the Bi₂O₃ addition causes improved γ-ray shielding competence, i.e., rise in effective atomic number (Z_eff) and a fall in half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), and mean free path (MFP). Exposure buildup factors (EBFs) and energy absorption buildup factors (EABFs) were derived using a geometric progression (G–P) fitting approach at 1–40 mfp penetration depths (PDs), within the 0.015–15 MeV range. Computed radiation protection efficiency (RPE) values confirm their excellent capacity for lower energy photons shielding. Comparably greater density (7.59 g/cm³), larger μ, μ/ρ, Z_eff, equivalent atomic number (Z_eq), and RPE, with the lowest HVL, TVL, MFP, EBFs, and EABFs derived for 30B₂O₃-60Bi₂O₃-10SrO (mol%) glass suggest it as an excellent γ-ray attenuator. Additionally, 30B₂O₃-60Bi₂O₃-10SrO (mol%) glass holds a commensurably bigger macroscopic removal cross-section for fast neutrons (Σ_R) (=0.1199 cm⁻¹), obtained by applying Phy-X/PSD for fast neutrons shielding, owing to the presence of larger wt% of ‘Bi’ (80.6813 wt%) and moderate ‘B’ (2.0869 wt%) elements in it. 70B₂O₃-5Bi₂O₃-25CaO (mol%) sample (B: 17.5887 wt%, Bi: 24.2855 wt%, Ca: 11.6436 wt%, and O: 46.4821 wt%) shows high potentiality for thermal or slow neutrons and intermediate energy neutrons capture or absorption due to comprised high wt% of ‘B’ element in it.     

Right ventricular myocardial performance index and exercise capacity in athletes

Right ventricular function is important for exercise capacity in athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of habitual exercise training on right ventricular global function. Fifty-two male athletes (25 runners, 27 wrestlers) and 43 age-matched sedentary male subjects were studied. All subjects in the study underwent an echocardiography examination and cardiopulmonary exercise test. Maximal oxygen consumption, right ventricular cavity diameters, and diastolic parameters were higher in the athletes than in controls. However, the right ventricular myocardial performance index was lower in athletes compared with controls. Therefore, the right ventricular myocardial performance index showed a negative correlation with maximal oxygen consumption (r = −0.61; P < 0.001). The right ventricular myocardial performance index may reflect changes in right ventricular function and exercise capacity in athletes.     

Left Main Coronary Artery Obstruction by Dislodged Native-Valve Calculus after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement can be an effective, reliable treatment for severe aortic stenosis in surgically high-risk or ineligible patients. However, various sequelae like coronary artery obstruction can occur, not only in the long term, but also immediately after the procedure. We present the case of a 78-year-old woman whose left main coronary artery became obstructed with calculus 2 hours after the transfemoral implantation of an Edwards Sapien XT aortic valve. Despite percutaneous coronary intervention in that artery, the patient died. This case reminds us that early recognition of acute coronary obstruction and prompt intervention are crucial in patients with aortic stenosis who have undergone transcatheter aortic valve replacement.     

Serum adipokine levels in patients with sarcoidosis

Clinical Rheumatology - Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granuloma which etiology is unknown yet. Adipokines are different proteins synthesized by...